DA: College student died of loss of blood flow

The Alfred University student who died at an off-campus party probably died from a lack of blood flow to his brain, according to Allegany County District Attorney Terrence Parker.

Bob Clark

The Alfred University student who died at an off-campus party probably died from a lack of blood flow to his brain, according to Allegany County District Attorney Terrence Parker.

Thomas Argentieri, a senior AU finance student, died Dec. 9, 2007, at a party at 57 N. Main St., in Alfred, and died from what Parker referred to as a “strangulation-type of death.”

“But it’s not your Hollywood, hands-around-the-neck strangulation,” Parker said. “His blood flow was cut off in some sort of way.”

Investigators are still awaiting the results from Argentieri’s autopsy by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester.

“We’re still in a holding pattern,” Parker said. “I’m used to waiting for toxicology results to come back, because I know they take some time. The rest of it, however, I’m used to having back by now.”

As for why the reports have not come back yet, Parker said, “All we’re doing is sitting here speculating,” adding he has heard no official reason why the results are being delayed.

Parker and Alfred Police Chief Tim O’Grady have declined to name the other student involved in the early morning altercation.

There has been some question if the altercation was the result of rival fraternities that may have been operating in an underground manner. That was ruled out by O’Grady in December, but he did say the party is believed to have been a semi-formal event.

AU spokesperson Sue Goetschius previously said any students involved in an underground fraternity would be subject to disciplinary action. The Greek system was shut down five years ago, following the death of Benjamin Klein, an AU junior who was a member of Zeta Beta Tau. The former ZBT house, now owned by the university, is next door to 57 N. Main St.

Argentieri graduated with honors from Horseheads High School in 2004, where he played football and lacrosse. At AU, he was a member of the lacrosse team his freshman and sophomore years.